Mental disorders threaten the work ability of diabetics

Press release, 30th March 2016, Helsinki, Finland

A study co-ordinated by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) found that work disability may already be associated with diabetes before actual diagnosis, and especially afterwards. Those suffering from diabetes are at a higher risk of work disability caused by mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular diseases, which are especially prevalent among those in a weak socioeconomic position. The lives of those who suffer many illnesses are overshadowed by loneliness, work stress and unhealthy lifestyles.

Over 500 000 Finns currently suffer from type 2 diabetes, and it is estimated to be one of the world’s fastest growing illnesses. Of those suffering from diabetes, almost 90% have type 2 diabetes. A research project co-ordinated by FIOH followed the work ability of over 16 000 working-aged diabetics both before and after diagnosis of the illness. The project analysed Finnish, Swedish, English, and French cohorts.

Work disability often already before diagnosis of diabetes

The study found that compared to controls, diabetics had more work disability (sickness absences and days on work disability pension) already three years before being diagnosed with diabetes. In a seven-year follow-up, diabetics had an average of 95 annual registered work disability days, whereas in the control group, the corresponding figure was 35.

However, 30‒40% of diabetics had very few or hardly any work disability days. The risk of work disability grew as the moment of diagnosis became closer, but evened out after this, although it still remained higher than that of the controls.

Diabetics have a higher rate of work disability related to mental health

The diabetics in the Swedish data had about 20 more absence days due to mental health issues than those who did not have diabetes. The corresponding difference as regards musculoskeletal diseases was about 12 days, and cardiovascular diseases about six days per year. Diabetes itself was seldom the reason for work disability, causing on average only two extra days of absence per year.

Compared to the control group, diabetics’ risk of ending up on work disability pension was threefold. This is explained for the most part by related conditions, such as mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

”Mental disorders are especially common among diabetics. Measures to prevent and treat diabetes should be tightly interwoven with the study and treatment of mental health, especially the study and treatment of depression. Correspondingly, the prevention and treatment of mental health should be linked to the study and treatment of diabetes,” claims Marianne Virtanen, Research Professor.

Loneliness, stress and an unhealthy lifestyle increase the risk of diabetes-related work disability.

The Swedish data showed that the diabetics with the most work disability days were those whose work disability was due to a mental disorder and who lived alone or were immigrants. The Finnish-French-English data in turn showed that the risk of work disability among those in lower-level professions was almost four times that of those in upper-level professions. Other factors linked to the poor prognosis of diabetic’s work ability were work stress, smoking, lack of physical exercise, and obesity. Over a third of diabetics had some sort of chronic related condition, and almost a third had a BMI of over 30.

”Measures to prevent diabetes-related work disability should pay particular attention to related conditions and lifestyle. Those at risk include employees in lower-level professions, those who live alone and immigrants,” says Specialist Researcher Jenni Ervasti.

The research in Finland was funded by the Academy of Finland and The Finnish Work Environment Fund.

Further information:

Marianna Virtanen, Research Professor, Academy Researcher, FIOH, tel. +358 43 8241151, marianna.virtanen(at)ttl.fi

Jenni Ervasti, Specialist Researcher, FIOH, tel. +358 43 8255475, jenni.ervasti(at)ttl.fi

Publications

Ervasti J, Virtanen M, Lallukka T, et al. Contribution of comorbid conditions to the association between diabetes and disability pensions: a population-based nationwide cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2016 Mar 1. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3556. [Epub ahead of print].

Ervasti J, Kivimaki M, Dray-Spira R, et al. Psychosocial factors associated with work disability in men and women with diabetes: a pooled analysis of three occupational cohort studies. Diabet Med 2016;33(2):208-217.

Ervasti J, Kivimaki M, Dray-Spira R, et al. Comorbidity and work disability among employees with diabetes: Associations with risk factors in a pooled analysis of three cohort studies. Scand J Public Health 2016;44(1):84-90.

Ervasti J, Kivimaki M, Dray-Spira R, et al. Socioeconomic gradient in work disability in diabetes: evidence from three occupational cohorts. J Epidemiol Community Health 2016;70(2):125-131.

Ervasti J, Virtanen M, Pentti J, et al. Work disability before and after diabetes diagnosis: A nationwide population-based register study in Sweden. Am J Public Health 2015;105(6):e22-9.

Virtanen M, Ervasti J, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, et al. Trends of diagnosis-specific work disability after newly diagnosed diabetes: a 4-year nationwide prospective cohort study. Diabetes Care 2015;38(10):1883-1890.

Virtanen M, Kivimaki M, Zins M, et al. Lifestyle-related risk factors and trajectories of work disability over 5 years in employees with diabetes: findings from two prospective cohort studies. Diabet Med 2015;32(10):1335-1341.

Virtanen M, Vahtera J, Head J, et al. Work disability among employees with diabetes: Latent class analysis of risk factors in three prospective cohort studies. PLoS One 2015;10(11):e0143184.

Media Services

Kristiina Kulha, Head of Communications
FIOH, Helsinki
Tel. +358 30 474 2551, +358 40 548 6914, 
kristiina.kulha[at]ttl.fi

Tiina Kaksonen, Communications Assistant 
FIOH, Oulu
Tel. +358 30 474 3015, +358 50 364 3158
tiina.kaksonen[at]ttl.fi

www.ttl.fi

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) researches, develops and specializes in well-being at work. It promotes occupational health and safety and the well-being of workers. It is an independent institution under public law, working under the administrative sector of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. FIOH has six regional offices, and its headquarters are in Helsinki. Fifty per cent of its funding comes from the state budget. 

Tags: